A little Of What I've been Up To

I wrote this last night as the rain fell. It was a very dark 31st October. We had pumpkins reflecting  their light out of the window down our puddle strewn path. Only two lots of children ventured out in the rain for trick or treating. The basket is still filled with shiny boiled sweets and chocolate eclair toffees. The fire was lit, candles flickered and the sweet smell of treacle tart hung about in the kitchen. Not home made I'm ashamed to say. Everything was a bit of a rush, so a thanks to Mr Kipling for the treacle tart and the Halloween french fancies. I hope you had a good one, however you celebrated it.

I've been busy with making stock for my Etsy shop which I'll show you in a bit...
Time has been zooming by and  half term seemed to arrive here just hours after school had returned from the summer!
I've been out and about quite a bit. My very bestest old friend from college days came to stay. :-) We had a lovely time catching up and wandered around Avebury  in the rain.

We breathed the salty misted sea air at Lyme Regis.

And met a lovely cat.

I bought a tiny egg in the fossil shop, that looks like a dragon or phoenix egg. It also looks as if it is made of moonlight. I will show you another day.
Talking of magical things, I saw amethyst in the hedgerow the other day.

And more magic....
This time at Warner Bros Leavesdon  Film Studios, to see the Harrry Potter studio tour.

It's a wonderful place to go for a Harry Potter fan. All the detail that has gone into everything is a joy to see. A lot of it made, because it was in the books but only glimpsed for seconds on screen in the films.

Below, the Leaky cauldron.

 And the attention to detail that brought it even more to life.

We had a butter beer, brought home a chocolate frog and got a Dumbledore wizard card!

So, back to the here and now and my new creations. Which are all about to be listed in my Etsy shop.

                                                   ~Sleepy Woodland Pendants~

                                                                          ~Hearts ~

                                                                    A few hares...

And there is still lots to do, to get things in the shop in time for Christmas, so I'd best get on then.
Take care. x

Travellers Joy And A Little Hare Love

The latest painting is finished. I have named it Travellers Joy.

Someone asked me in the comments on the last post who he was? The answer to this is no one in particular, just a man, a traveller and this picture is just a glimpse into his story. He is one of the many characters that tread the starlit paths through the landscape in my mind. He first appeared last year as a sketch then waited patiently to be brought to life in colour. My head is filled with characters and places and snippets of scenes. I like to think they all live together in a kind of other world . I have access to that world. But then we all do don't we?
Travellers Joy is available to buy as a print in my Etsy shop here.

The weather here has turned icy cold. Wind chill feels about -7 when out walking. I've seen catkins, kingfisher, snowdrops, velvet black rooks gathering in the icy field and two swans in love. Raindrop sparkles on windows, rainbow colour on crystal and I made some Rainbow Tree Pendants.

And with valentine's just around the corner, I thought it time that I made a few more hearts too, so here they are.

A little 'Hare love'

They are also available to buy in my Etsy shop.

This time instead of the plain ribbon, I used what I call my raggety ribbon. It's been in the drawer since last year and it reminds me of the lines and soft colours of the winter garden and also adds a kind of vintage appeal to them  I think, which seems rather nice?

Pale greens similar to the iced moss in the garden this morning.

And the memories of last year in a crumpled leaf.

Darkness descends a little later now and the light stretches with each day that passes. Soon our winter dreams will be replaced with warm and the soft flutter of moth wing. I have missed the moths.
Happy weekend! xx

Pinch, Punch, Rabbits! And Some Hares

 'Pinch and a punch first day of the month!  

                                           Rabbits!
Do you ever say this to each other on the first of every month? We often do.
Apparently it originates from when people believed that witches existed. It was thought that salt would make a witch weak, so the pinch part is pinching of the salt. The punch part was to banish the witch. The witch would be weak from the salt, so the punch was to banish her.
How many times do we say things and not really know the fascinating story that is behind them?
Must go and research what the 'rabbits' mean now! ;)


I can scarcely believe it's February already. January seemed to whizz past in a blur. I've been busy with some wooden things.

With Valentine's coming up, I felt the desire to use some red.

How could I not make some 'love' inspired hangers.

And hearts...

Outside I can hear Spring in the birds song. Yesterday I glanced up from my work and saw the most beautiful green woodpecker swoop past the window. Birds are indeed looking busier out there. I must remember to get some of my hair out of my hairbrush and begin putting it on the hedge. It's a magical feeling to think that the hair would be used by birds for their nests.
In the garden the snowdrops are up and I was inspired to make a 'Snowdrop Hare'

In my little book 'The Language of flowers' it says Snowdrops symbolize 'Hope'

 

With the hope of the new year and Spring  fresh in my mind. Like many people I am hoping too that our goverment will change their minds on the decision to sell off our publicly owned woods and forests.

 On Wednesday ( tommorow)  there is going to be a vote in parliament regarding this. If you haven't already done so, please sign this petition and let them know that we want to keep the small amount of public forest and woodland we have left, public for future generations. You can sign here. And go to the 'Save Our Woods' Website here.

I will be listing the hangers in my Etsy shop today, so if you are interested in any of them, keep your eye on it. :)

Finally, I would just like to thank every body for all the kind, generous and encouraging comments that they leave here I really do appreciate them and read them all. I don't always get chance to answer, but am so grateful for all of them and that also goes to everyone that follows too. Thankyou!

See you soon!
x